 |
| Sheryl Williams Stapleton |
Capitol Report New Mexico - During a break in Wednesday’s Legislative Education Study Committee, Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) angrily confronted Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell), shouting “Don’t mess with me” and accusing Espinoza of “carrying the Mexican’s water on the fourth floor,” referring to Gov. Susana Martinez. Back on Oct. 28, KRQE-TV aired an investigative piece from Larry Barker that said Stapleton did not take leave from her job as an administrator at the Albuquerque Public Schools system and received pay while attending legislative sessions. (You can click
here to see that story.) “I’m pissed,” Stapleton said as she confronted Espinoza during a lunch break at the committee meeting, “I’ve been waiting for you.” Espinoza got a few words in before Stapleton said, “You said I’m corrupt. Prove it!”
 |
| Susana Martinez |
“I’ve been falsely and biasly accused,” Stapleton told reporters a few minutes later. “It was a biased story and my colleague added to it by saying I committed corruption.” Stapleton said she believes Espinoza was set up by people in the governor’s office to criticize Stapleton because she has resisted many of the governor’s educational reform bills. “From what I’ve heard from the blogs across the state,” Stapleton said, “the fourth floor [where the governor's office is located] is behind it.” When asked about the comment, “carrying the Mexican’s water,” and how some people could consider that offensive, Stapleton said, “If it is, I didn’t mean it to be inflammatory,” adding that she is part Spanish. Read full story here:
News New Mexico
Rep. Williams-Stapleton to Rep. Espinoza: "You're Carrying the Mexican's Water on the Fourth Floor"
Posts
3 comments:
Naturally, democrats are exempt from being held accountable for even the most egregious racial public slurs and comments. If a white republican had made this kind of racially charged comment or a similar statement about Rep. Stapleton's ethnic background, the NAACP, the ASPCA, every legislative body and regulatory entity on planet Earth would not only be demanding a resignation but the recommended punishment would certainly involve the use of a rope! I have ONE QUESTION; why hasn't Rep. Stapleton resigned? Do such comments not rise to the level of expulsion from the New Mexico legislature or the democratic party? This incident will serve as a testament to the credibility of the democratic party's policy on racial issues and a host of ethnic organizations whose number one objective is to STOMP OUT racism wherever it rears it's ugly head. It will be quite interesting to witness how this regrettable episode plays out. My intuition tells me that the democratic party will endorse Rep. Stapleton's racial comments and characterize any media attention as some kind of ideological conspiracy orchestrated by over zealous conservatives.
Can anyone imagine the outrage if a republican in the U.S. Congress used the "N" word while asking a democrat why he or she was carrying the president's water? I want someone to explain the difference and how this person can continue to represent the citizens of her district? Is this what American politics has come to?
Such behavior from a democrat doesn't shock or surprise me. Stapleton will apologize and that will be the end of it. If a republican were to do the same thing, he or she would most likely be pressured to resign. I'm alright with the double standard. Republicans demand more of themselves and are less tolerant of racial bigotry. Ironically, democrats claim to be the party of color and champions of minorities. This particular incident is but one example of that mythical assertion. Racial bigotry comes in all colors and crosses ALL political lines. However, what does history tell us about the manner in which each political party deals with blatant acts of bigotry? Anyone who can remember how Trent Lott was asked to step down from his leadership role in the U.S.Senate can relate. Senator Lott was unfairly criticized and crucified for merely complimenting Strom Thurmond at his 90th birthday party by stating that Senator Thurmond would have made a good president. When you contrast Stapleton's choice of words versus a harmless compliment to a 90 year old politician, the standard of behavior expected and the level of punisment is light years apart. The same could be said about Herman Cain being forced out of the republican presidential nomination process while a philandering Bill Clinton not only secured the democratic party nomination but went on the serve two terms in the White House. Should republicans be held to a higher standard? Perhaps this is a better question; should democrats be held to a lower standard? If so, that would certainly explain the outcome of Stapleton's racist rant. Everyone should keep this in mind when you go to the polls in November of next year. Ask yourself; Which political party occupies the high ground...if any?
Post a Comment